In the context of the Bible, the term "hostile" refers to attitudes, actions, or entities that are opposed to God, His people, or His purposes. Hostility can manifest in various forms, including spiritual opposition, physical aggression, or emotional antagonism. The Bible provides numerous examples of hostility, both from individuals and nations, against God and His chosen people.

Old Testament Examples

1. Cain and Abel: The first recorded act of hostility in the Bible is the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. Genesis 4:8 states, "Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go out to the field.' And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him." This act of hostility was rooted in jealousy and sin, marking the beginning of human enmity.

2. Nations Against Israel: Throughout the Old Testament, various nations displayed hostility towards Israel. The Philistines, for example, were frequent adversaries. In 1 Samuel 17:10 , Goliath, a Philistine warrior, defies the armies of Israel, saying, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man to fight!"

3. Pharaoh's Hostility: The Egyptian Pharaoh's refusal to let the Israelites go, despite the plagues sent by God, is another example of hostility. Exodus 5:2 records Pharaoh's defiance: "But Pharaoh replied, 'Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.'"

New Testament Examples

1. Religious Leaders Against Jesus: The Pharisees and Sadducees often displayed hostility towards Jesus, seeking to undermine His ministry and ultimately plotting His death. In Matthew 12:14 , it is written, "But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus."

2. Persecution of Early Christians: The early church faced significant hostility from both Jewish and Roman authorities. Acts 8:1 describes the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom: "And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria."

3. Worldly Hostility: Jesus warned His disciples about the hostility they would face from the world. In John 15:18-19 , He said, "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world."

Spiritual Hostility

The Bible also speaks of spiritual hostility, particularly the enmity between God and Satan. Ephesians 6:12 highlights this spiritual battle: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Response to Hostility

Believers are called to respond to hostility with love, patience, and faith. Romans 12:14 instructs, "Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse." Furthermore, Jesus taught in Matthew 5:44 , "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

The Bible acknowledges the reality of hostility but encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty and to respond with Christ-like love and forgiveness.1. (a.) Belonging or appropriate to an enemy; showing the disposition of an enemy; showing ill will and malevolence, or a desire to thwart and injure; occupied by an enemy or enemies; inimical; unfriendly; as, a hostile force; hostile intentions; a hostile country; hostile to a sudden change.

2. (n.) An enemy; esp., an American Indian in arms against the whites; -- commonly in the plural.

2190. echthros -- hostile
... hostile. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: echthros Phonetic Spelling:
(ech-thros') Short Definition: hated, hostile, an enemy Definition: hated ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2190.htm - 7k

1727. enantios -- opposite, fig. hostile, opposed
... hostile, opposed. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: enantios Phonetic Spelling:
(en-an-tee'-os) Short Definition: opposite, opposed, contrary, the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1727.htm - 7k

1225. diaballo -- to bring charges (usually with hostile intent)
... to bring charges (usually with hostile intent). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
diaballo Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ab-al'-lo) Short Definition: I slander ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1225.htm - 7k

865. aphilagathos -- without love of good
... 865 (from 1 , "not" and 5358 , "a friend, lover of what is good") -- properly,
describing someone who is hostile to the things of God -- ie an active opponent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/865.htm - 7k

1369. dichazo -- to cause a separation, separate, fig. alienate
... alienate. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dichazo Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-khad'-zo) Short Definition: I set at variance, make to be hostile Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1369.htm - 6k

470. antapokrinomai -- to answer again
... antapokrinomai Phonetic Spelling: (an-tap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee) Short Definition: I
contradict Definition: I contradict, reply against, give a hostile answer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/470.htm - 6k

2189b. echthra -- enmity
... Word Origin from echthros Definition enmity NASB Word Usage enemies (1), enmities
(1), enmity (2), hostile (1), hostility (1). 2189a, 2189b. echthra. 2190 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2189b.htm - 5k

245. allotrios -- belonging to another
... From allos; another's, ie Not one's own; by extension foreign, not akin, hostile --
alien, (an-)other (man's, men's), strange(-r). see GREEK allos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/245.htm - 7k

4820. sumballo -- to throw together, hence to discuss, consider ...
... I ponder, encounter, confer or dispute with Definition: properly: I throw together,
hence: I ponder, come up with, encounter, with or without hostile intent; I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4820.htm - 7k

1758. enecho -- to hold in or upon, ie to ensnare, by impl. to ...
... to keep a grudge NASB Word Usage grudge against (1), had a grudge against (1),
hostile (1), subject (1). have a quarrel against, hold a grudge. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1758.htm - 6k

340. ayab -- to be hostile to
... 339, 340. ayab. 341 . to be hostile to. Transliteration: ayab Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-yab') Short Definition: enemies. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/340.htm - 6k

6887c. tsarar -- to show hostility toward, vex
... root Definition to show hostility toward, vex NASB Word Usage adversaries (10),
adversary (2), afflict (1), attacks (1), been hostile (1), distress (1 ...
/hebrew/6887c.htm - 5k

7128. qerab -- a battle, war
... Word Origin from qarab Definition a battle, war NASB Word Usage battle (4), war
(5). battle, war. From qarab; hostile encounter -- battle, war. see HEBREW qarab ...
/hebrew/7128.htm - 6k

7147. qeri -- opposition, contrariness
... Word Origin from qarah Definition opposition, contrariness NASB Word Usage hostility
(7). contrary. From qarah; hostile encounter -- contrary. see HEBREW qarah. ...
/hebrew/7147.htm - 6k

7125. qirah -- against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way
... From qara'; an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially,
opposite) -- X against (he come), help, meet, seek, X to, X in the way. ...
/hebrew/7125.htm - 6k

3803. kathar -- to surround
... A primitive root; to enclose; hence (in a friendly sense) to crown, (in a hostile
one) to besiege; also to wait (as restraining oneself) -- beset round ...
/hebrew/3803.htm - 6k

6584. pashat -- to strip off, make a dash, raid
... A primitive root; to spread out (ie Deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip
(ie Unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.) -- fall upon, flay, invade, make an ...
/hebrew/6584.htm - 6k

7122. qara -- to encounter, befall
... A primitive root: to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile manner -- befall,
(by) chance, (cause to) come (upon), fall out, happen, meet. ...
/hebrew/7122.htm - 6k

8298. Sharay -- an Israelite with a foreign wife
... with a foreign wife NASB Word Usage Sharai (1). Sharai. Probably from sharar; hostile;
Sharay, an Israelite -- Sharai. see HEBREW sharar. 8297, 8298. ...
/hebrew/8298.htm - 6k

7489a. raa -- to be evil, bad
... 1), done wickedly (1), done wrong (1), evil (7), evildoer (2), evildoers (16),
evildoing (1), grieved (1), hard (1), harm (1), harming (1), hostile (3), hurt ( ...
/hebrew/7489a.htm - 6k

Most Hostile and Alien to the Apostolic Confession are those who ...
... A Sectional Confession of Faith. Section I. Most hostile and alien to
the Apostolic Confession are those who speak of the Son? ...
/.../section i most hostile and.htm

The Hostile Verdict of Biblical Critics Shewn to be Quite of ...
... THE LAST TWELVE VERSES OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S. MARK. CHAPTER II. THE HOSTILE
VERDICT OF BIBLICAL CRITICS SHEWN TO BE QUITE OF RECENT DATE. ...
/.../chapter ii the hostile verdict.htm

The Hostile Verdict of Biblical Critics Shewn to be Quite of ...
... CHAPTER II. THE HOSTILE VERDICT OF BIBLICAL CRITICS SHEWN TO BE QUITE OF
RECENT DATE. Griesbach the first to deny the genuineness ...
/.../chapter ii the hostile verdict.htm

The Alleged Hostile Witness of Certain of the Early Fathers Proved ...
... MARK. CHAPTER V. THE ALLEGED HOSTILE WITNESS OF CERTAIN OF THE EARLY FATHERS
PROVED TO BE AN IMAGINATION OF THE CRITICS. The mistake ...
/.../chapter v the alleged hostile.htm

The Alleged Hostile Witness of Certain of the Early Fathers Proved ...
... CHAPTER V. THE ALLEGED HOSTILE WITNESS OF CERTAIN OF THE EARLY FATHERS PROVED
TO BE AN IMAGINATION OF THE CRITICS. The mistake concerning ...
/.../chapter v the alleged hostile.htm

Evil is not a Substance, but a Disagreement Hostile to Substance.
... On the Morals of the Manich??ans. Chapter 8. "Evil is Not a Substance, But
a Disagreement Hostile to Substance. 11. For what other ...
/.../chapter 8 name is not.htm

The Seventh Year of Our Conflict was Completed; and the Hostile ...
... Book VIII. Chapter XIII. The seventh year of our conflict was completed;
and the hostile measures which had continued? 1. The ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xiii the seventh year.htm

Of the Degrees of Wickedness which Exist in Hostile Spirits, as ...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XVIII. Of the degrees of wickedness
which exist in hostile spirits, as shown in the case of two philosophers. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xviii of the degrees.htm

Several Other Things Turned against the Same Mathematicians.
... be abominable to them, God, being righteous, rejoices in righteousness, and
unrighteousness is hateful to Him, being opposed and hostile to righteousness. ...
/.../chapter xvi several other things turned.htm

One Saying with Two Meanings
... So, then, hostile seeking of the Christ is in vain, and loving seeking of Him by
His friends, though they understand Him but very poorly, and therefore seek ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/one saying with two meanings.htm

Enemy (134 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One hostile to another; one who hates, and desires or attempts the injury
of, another; a foe; an adversary; as, an enemy of or to a person; an enemy to ...
/e/enemy.htm - 41k

Encounter (10 Occurrences)
... To come against face to face; to meet; to confront, either by chance, suddenly,
or deliberately; especially, to meet in opposition or with hostile intent; to ...
/e/encounter.htm - 10k

Assail (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault;
to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city with artillery. ...
/a/assail.htm - 7k

Ahab (85 Occurrences)
... No doubt Ahab thought that a king won as a friend by kindness might be of greater
service to Israel than a hostile nation, made still more hostile, by having ...
/a/ahab.htm - 52k

Nicodemus (5 Occurrences)
... his timidity of action, which displayed itself in his coming "by night," lest he
should offend his colleagues in the Sanhedrin and the other hostile Jews (John ...
/n/nicodemus.htm - 14k

Siege (63 Occurrences)
... This instruction to have regard to the fruit trees around a hostile city seems to
have been more honored in the breach than in the observance, even in Israel. ...
/s/siege.htm - 51k

Divination (25 Occurrences)
... were prohibited by the government from exercising their calling, probably because
they were supposed to be in league with tile gods of other and hostile nations ...
/d/divination.htm - 45k

Scribes (85 Occurrences)
... into collision with him. They afterwards showed themselves greatly hostile
to the apostles (Acts 4:5; 6:12). Some of the scribes ...
/s/scribes.htm - 49k

Jeremiah (141 Occurrences)
... This king was indeed not as hostile to Jeremiah as Jehoiakim had been; but all the
more hostile were the princes and the generals, who were now in command ...
/j/jeremiah.htm - 75k

Hostile (25 Occurrences)
... enemy; showing ill will and malevolence, or a desire to thwart and injure; occupied
by an enemy or enemies; inimical; unfriendly; as, a hostile force; hostile...
/h/hostile.htm - 13k

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Hostile: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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